Schneider and Gorniewicz join ICSO

Tuesday

Jun 25, 2013 at 9:31 PMJun 25, 2013 at 10:35 PM

Sheriff Dale Miller has welcomed two new employees to his law enforcement team.

By Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

Ionia County Sheriff Dale Miller has welcomed two new employees to his law enforcement team.Chelsea Schneider began her new position as a full-time deputy in the road patrol division at the Ionia County Sheriff's Office in May. A Grand Ledge resident, Schneider holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and is a graduate of the Mid-Michigan Police Academy in Lansing.This is Schneider's first job out of college, and she said she is enjoying it already."It's something different every day, " she said. "I get to help people and make a positive difference."When she is not working, Schneider does stand-up jet skiing in the summer, including having raced in Canada, and enjoys spending time with her family.During college, for an independent study course, Schneider was pen pals with serial killer Richard Ramirez, known as the "Night Stalker.""He was one of the few famous ones alive. I sent him a letter, and we started corresponding. I learned more than reading a book about him," she said, adding that he never wrote to her about his crimes. "He told me stories of his childhood and when he was a teenager."Willa Gorniewicz, who also began her position in May, is a part-time corrections officer in the Ionia County Jail. She holds an associate's degree from Lansing Community College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University. Before coming to the sheriff's office, she worked security for East Kentwood High School."This has always been an interest to me. It's always changing. There is always more to learn about the field. You're never finished training," she said. "It's good pay, and a good career. You won't get rich, but it's a decent living and something to be proud of."Gorniewicz is moving to Ionia County to some property she recently purchased. In her off time, she works on renovating her new home and enjoys kayaking.Gorniewicz grew up on a reindeer farm in Caledonia. When she was in fifth grade, her family bought two reindeer. They now have five – all females. They hope to buy one more from Canada."I spent summers feeding reindeer," she said. "Two were bottle fed. They are the ones we bring out on shows (at Christmas time). The others are for breeding.""We're pleased to have (Schneider and Gorniewicz) here," Miller said. "They were excellent candidates and are a great addition to our agency. We're proud they selected us. We hope they are here a long time to provide service to the community."Follow Karen Bota on Twitter @KarenB_ISS.